The pestilence of pessimism

By Carel Nolte

Warning! I have just finished a 10km run in the Blaauwklippen valley (and, as always, I am slightly amazed and deeply grateful for what my body can do!) so am high on endorphins. And after a couple of days in Hermanus at the BizNews conference BNC#6, my brain is full of of new ideas So, if you like to wallow in misery, poor logic and lazy thinking, do not carry in reading …

The world has a lot of issue. Like, a LOT.

There is a tremedous amount of fear, anger, hurt and despair across continents. Poverty abounds. Wars are raging.

And yet, I am of the firm view that there is also a lot to be grateful for. To enjoy. To look forward to.

At the BN#6 there were a lot of superb speakers. “Superb” because they gave me food for thought and challenged my views. In introducing them, Alec Hogg (founder of Biznews) used this often quoted Theodore Roosevelt piece of writing:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Alec Hogg interviewing PA Leader Gayton McKenzie

One of the men who is most certainly in the arena is Dr Frans Cronje – a well-known political and economics researcher, analyst and commentator. Cronje shared views on a post 2024 election SA and was introduced as being far more positive than his often negative views. In response Cronje stated that he doesn’t view himself as having been negative in the past, nor positive now, merely as someone who looks at the facts and shares his analysis of them.

I liked that. Since doing research for my Masters Thesis in the 90s – titled “Revealing the real” and suggesting that there is never merely one interpretation to a set of facts, I have experienced a multitude of examples in my life supporting this idea. Our life events, situation and beliefs all deeply influence how we interpret the world. However, it is vital to look at the facts – to read, listen, ask, explore and change your views as you gather new insights.

Dr Christo Wiese, having lost billions to the fraudster Markus Jooste, explained that he is optimistic generally and specifically about SA, despite the many challenges and the fact that we could be much better, by naming a couple of examples. One was that our average life expectancy is now 63 in SA, up from 55 at the start of democracy. Another that our budget deficit the same as it was then. That our tax base (both individuals and corporates) has increased hugely (there were many more). These reminded me of perspective – it is easy to fall into a narrative of despair. To believe the fearmongering and negativity spread by often charismatic) politicians and leaders. I urge you to not do so but to keep your head about you and to go deeper than soundbites.

Speaking about bitcoin at BNC#6, self-proclaimed Bitcoin fanatic, former Google Africa head and current influential businsessman and innovator across numerous companies and fields, Stafford Masie made the point that we should all educate oursleves more (in the context of bitcoin). Good advice for all fields on which we want to have an opinion. Or in areas we are angry about. Don’t parrot others – explore and learn from various sources. I have found that every time that I have done that, I have been more content.

Superb moderation by Bronwyn Nielsen of Stafford Masie and Charles Savage

As an example – if we are furious about water delivery (and we should be) make sure we know who the Minister in the Department of Sanitation and Water Affairs is (Mr Senzo Mchunu).

Make sure we know about the innovation in treating our crumbling water infrastructure and how we may be able to get involved (a tip here – Biznews has started publishing all the talks from Hermanus and will continue to do so over the next few weeks – listen to them as they give great insights from many political leaders and business giants). Read, watch and listen to journalism that gives you facts and allows you to develop your thinking. Be open to being wrong.

Similarly, don’t spend your life adamant about getting rid of the ANC (or in keeping them) in government. Make sure that you are registered to vote, do your research on the political parties and exercise your vote on 29 May. And then, regardless of who wins, do your bit as a member of civil society, as a servant leader, as someone who has many talents to contribute, to make your immediate community better (start with your home, your street, your suburb) and then the country and the world. It isn’t too big a task really. It just requires all of us to start and to do one little thing to make the world better. One. Every day. And for all of us to realise that crime for many is not an option, but a necessity. And it is our opportunity and obligation to change that reality.

Being woke is either a badge worn proudly by a few people (my mate Graeme Codrington and myself), one hidden away by many for fear of intimidation or one condemned loudly by numerous articulate and smart convervatives (and a few crazies). For me, woke simply means “that someone is informed, educated and conscious of social injustice and racial inequality”. And then wants to help change that. Or, as Graeme reminded us via this chat by Pink – to see more kinds of beauty. To be kind and caring.

I am clear that seeing the glass half-full, thinking that “different” is beautiful and has worth, that diversity is essential to further society, is not something to condemn or to fear. Or to mock. Or to denigrate as naive. Pessimism and cynicism is more of a pestilence than the bubonic plague ever was. It robs us of the joy of common purpose. Of living our best lives alongside others doing the same.

Winning only requires one point as our Springboks proved (often!) in France. It requires small, consistent effort. Not major happenings and earth-shattering changes.

I have made many mistakes in my life. I have done things I wish I hadn’t. Or had done differently. I have hurt people and caused damage. But the gift of life is that I can acknowledge this and make amends. To ask for forgiveness and to try and do better. Every day is a new day to serve others. To grow. To be happy. To see those who think differently to me not as enemies, but as people to learn from.

I spent quite a bit of time at BNC#6 with a well-known former chairman of a very large SA company. He is retired now, but still razor sharp and I value his company and rolemodelling tremendously. He remarked during one tea-break that I was busier than he had ever been and knew many more people. I didn’t take that as a compliment. Here’s why.

Some of the wonderful people I spent time with at BNC#6 – Anet Pienaar Vosloo photo credit

In my 50th year, I am choosing one thing to share with my friends each month. In January it was a list of music which has influenced me. In February it was reflecting on travel and how it has contributed to my life. In March, I have given up meat, alcohol and social media. This is partly inspired by Lent, but also as a way for me to create some space for “less”. To reflect with more clarity. To explore more breadth than depth.

And while I have had a couple of drinks (at birthdays) or eaten meat (at a friend’s braai), I have pretty much for 99% of the time been able to stick to the plan. And that has allowed me to not only think about religion (Christianity in the context of Lent) in my life and how I want to engage with God, but also on what truly is important in life.

And I can tell you, with a few weeks to go before I turn 50, that I am even more grateful for and optimistic about life than ever before!

This world is filled with beauty, kindness, innovation, opportunity, love, laughter, humour – all we have to do is to be open to experiencing that.